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Portable Dehumidifier Top-200 (AlierKin)
The first thing to clarify is that this portable dehumidifier is designed for use in small places: closets, wardrobes, cabinets, cupboards, storage areas, damp corners. In my view, it is NOT suitable for bathrooms, however small, where steam and hot water vapour from bathing and showering accumulate quickly and need to be evacuated just as fast. For that you need a full-size electric dehumidifier, or a built-in exhaust system.
This small and very portable device is, however, brilliant at what it is intended to do. I tested it in a problem area in my stone house, a large built-in closet set against one of the exterior walls. The closet walls are insulated but, when it rains in winter, humidity is still too high to keep the contents fresh and dry, so the only things we could store in it were those few objects that are not affected by dampness. |
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The appliance is ready for action. After unwrapping it and checking the colour of the salts inside (they should be a light orange shade), it can be placed in your target damp area. Humidity is absorbed by the salts through the many ventilation holes and in time the contents change colour. When you see green in the little window, it's time to take the humidifier out, select a suitable unloading location and plug the unit into a power socket using the cable provided. The recharging process involves heating the crystals until they have released all the humidity, so invisible steam will be produced. If you have a place sheltered from the elements but open to the air (like a covered terrace or carport) that would be good during daytime hours. Otherwise you can use it as a humidifier in a living room or basement area. Just don't put it in the same place that you have just dried out. After 12-15 hours, check the little window and you should see orange. If not, leave it plugged for a few more hours, until the salts are fully dry, and then return the dehumidifier to its working location.
Even though it's small, this product does work. I was very sceptical, to say the least. Our test closet had been a constant problem, and resistant to other solutions. I usually had to leave the doors open and run my deLonghi dehumidifier for a few hours in the room, but soon after the closet doors were closed, the issue returned. I can hardly believe that this small, silent, unobtrusive little gadget actually does the trick. After the first few hours, the closet had lost its faintly mouldy odour and within a couple of days I put some towels on the shelves to check the extent of the improvement. The towels stayed dry. After two weeks, the crystals had turned dark green and it was time to refresh the crystals. I took a total of 20 hours for all the crystals to turn back to orange, but now the dehumidifier is back in the closet doing his job. The instructions say that this process can be repeated for up to ten years. I don't know if that's accurate, but at this price even half that time would be very satisfactory. I have tested a slightly smaller version by the same brand, and the only differences I could see were the times: the larger unit became saturated sooner and took a bit longer to dry out. This is consistent with its larger capacity. They are both very practical and useful solutions for small damp areas.
Even though it's small, this product does work. I was very sceptical, to say the least. Our test closet had been a constant problem, and resistant to other solutions. I usually had to leave the doors open and run my deLonghi dehumidifier for a few hours in the room, but soon after the closet doors were closed, the issue returned. I can hardly believe that this small, silent, unobtrusive little gadget actually does the trick. After the first few hours, the closet had lost its faintly mouldy odour and within a couple of days I put some towels on the shelves to check the extent of the improvement. The towels stayed dry. After two weeks, the crystals had turned dark green and it was time to refresh the crystals. I took a total of 20 hours for all the crystals to turn back to orange, but now the dehumidifier is back in the closet doing his job. The instructions say that this process can be repeated for up to ten years. I don't know if that's accurate, but at this price even half that time would be very satisfactory. I have tested a slightly smaller version by the same brand, and the only differences I could see were the times: the larger unit became saturated sooner and took a bit longer to dry out. This is consistent with its larger capacity. They are both very practical and useful solutions for small damp areas.
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Portable Mini Dehumidifier (AlierKin)
The first thing to clarify is that this portable dehumidifier is designed for use in small places: closets, wardrobes, cabinets, cupboards, storage areas, damp corners. In my view, it is NOT suitable for bathrooms, however small, where steam and hot water vapour from bathing and showering accumulate quickly and need to be evacuated just as fast. For that you need a full-size electric dehumidifier, or a built-in exhaust system.
This small appliance (slightly larger than a Smartphone) is, however, brilliant at what it is intended to do. I tested it in a problem area in my stone house, a large built-in closet set against one of the exterior walls. The closet walls are insulated but, when it rains in winter, humidity is still too high to keep the contents fresh and dry, so it can only be used for a very few objects that are not affected by the damp. |
The appliance is ready to go, you just unwrap it, check the colour of the salts inside (it should be a light orange shade) and place it in your damp area. Humidity is absorbed by the salts through the many ventilation holes and in time the contents change colour. When you see green, it's time to take the humidifier out, select a suitable unloading location and plug the unit into a power socket with the cable provided. We use a plug in our carport, in a spot sheltered from rain but open to the air. A covered terrace would be a good place, or a rough basement area, or even a living area where you don't mind a humidifying effect.
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Plugging in the unit generates heat which dries the crystals and makes them ready for their job again, but this process produces evaporation, so you should not place the unit in the same area that you have just dried out. After 12-15 hours, check the little window and you should see orange. If not, leave it plugged in a bit longer, until the salts are fully dry, and then return the dehumidifier to its working location.
Does it work? I was very sceptical, to say the least. Our test closet had been a constant problem, and resistant to other solutions. I usually had to leave the doors open and run my deLonghi dehumidifier for a few hours in the room, but soon after the closet doors were closed, the issue returned. I can hardly believe that this small, silent, unobtrusive little gadget actually does the trick. After a few hours, the closet had lost its faintly mouldy odour and within a couple of days I put some towels on the shelves to check the extent of the improvement. The towels stayed dry. By Day 16, the crystals had turned dark green and I took the dehumidifier outside for the first time. I left it plugged in overnight and for most of the next day; it took a total of 18 hours before all the crystals were orange again. Apparently, you can repeat this process for up to ten years. I don't know how accurate that is, but at this price even half that time would be very satisfactory.
Does it work? I was very sceptical, to say the least. Our test closet had been a constant problem, and resistant to other solutions. I usually had to leave the doors open and run my deLonghi dehumidifier for a few hours in the room, but soon after the closet doors were closed, the issue returned. I can hardly believe that this small, silent, unobtrusive little gadget actually does the trick. After a few hours, the closet had lost its faintly mouldy odour and within a couple of days I put some towels on the shelves to check the extent of the improvement. The towels stayed dry. By Day 16, the crystals had turned dark green and I took the dehumidifier outside for the first time. I left it plugged in overnight and for most of the next day; it took a total of 18 hours before all the crystals were orange again. Apparently, you can repeat this process for up to ten years. I don't know how accurate that is, but at this price even half that time would be very satisfactory.
Electric Dehumidifier DEM10 (deLonghi)
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This small dehumidifier arrived in early December. I waited a very long time to write a review because I had read many bad things about it and, to be fair, it was a little bit temperamental at the very start. The DEM10 was allowed to settle for 24 hours, as per instructions, but when first turned on, it did nothing. Hours passed and the receptacle stayed dry. We did pull the tank out to reset the switch but to no avail. By next morning I was ready to re-pack it and send it back when I read about washing the filter. The filter looked clean, but after washing and reinstalling it, the dehumidifier started working and has been doing its job perfectly ever since.
We had guests coming to stay for Christmas and, as luck would have it, a roof leak caused water damage to the spare bedroom. We were forced to have a whole wall re-plastered and the room repainted in the middle of winter. This little workhorse pulled litres of water out of the room round the clock and we were able to have the room back to normal in record time. Now, we turn it on for two or three hours a day and it keeps the house interior comfortably dry and saves on heating costs, too. During the wettest winter ever, the house is condensation-free and feels warm and cosy. It is also brilliant when the washing needs to fully dry and, of course, after a shower in the bathroom. |
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I would perhaps deduct half a star because the low-noise claim is not always accurate. It's a dull hum usually but sometimes it kicks into a louder vibrating noise that sounds like contact with the casing. Moving it slightly seems to help, and it's always a good idea to place it on a rug, but sometimes the louder noise starts after it's been on for a while. Turning it off and on again is often the answer. In balance, it's a wonderfully effective appliance that reduces humidity and fulfils its stated function. I like the neat design and small size (our previous dehumidifier was four time bigger) and how easy it is to move from one room to the other. We bought this two and a half years ago, and it's still going strong. In fact, any little teething problems have disappeared (like the Defrost Mode coming on randomly). Cleaning the filter every few months helps with the noise.